Packer and setting tool combination



Jan. 9, 1940.

'C. C. BROWN PACKER AND SETTING rTOOL VCOMBINA'IIION Filed Noir. 26. 1937 l 3 -'sheets-sheet 1 c. c. BROWN 2,186,324

PACKER AND SETTING TOOL COMBINATION Jan. 9; 1940.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 CIC, BROWN INVENTOR.

A'TToRNEYs.

Jan. 9, 1940. c. c. BROWN 2,186,324

PACKER AND SETTING TOOL COMBINATION Filed Nov. 26, 1937 3 Sheets-Shet 3 C, c. aRow/v INVENToR. n

Patented Jan. 9, 1940 v UNITI-:D STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a packer and setting tool combination for use in completing oil wells or the like.

The improvement relates to wells having screens or strainer pipes permitting entry into the well of fluids but preventing entry of sand and such materials as tend to clog the well-and stop its4 iiow. Equipment of that general character has frequentlyincluded a packer or other sealing device between the screen and the well tubing to assist in 'regulating the washing of the screen.

In the structures heretofore used, there has in many instances been no packer between the screen and tubing, and in instances where such a packer has been provided, it has been of such a nature that, once set, it could not be removed without being out and 'fished out.

It is the general object of this invention to provide a novel screen, packer and setting tool combination, which will avoid certain disadvantages of similar prior combinations and provide advantages not heretofore obtainable.

It is an object of this invention to provide a screen, packer and setting tool. combination in which no substantial iiow can take place through the screen during the time it is being lowered into the well, or during the washing operation.`

It is a further object to providea combination of the type set forth in which a seal will be formed between the tubing and the upper end of the screen during the time that the screen is suspended from the tubing.

Another object is to provide a'combination of the type set forth in which a packer is associated with a means for suspending the screen from the tubing in such a manner that, when such means is in operative position, the packer will be expanded to form a seal between the tubing and the upper end of the screen.

Another object is to provide a structure wherein the packer adapted to form the seal between the screen and the casing cannot be accidentally set.

Another object of this invention Vis to provide a device which will automatically form a seal between the tubing hand the upper end of the screen upon the forming i' a seal between the upper end of the screen and the casing.'

Another object is to provide a device for forming la permanent seal between the tubing and the upper end of the screen, which seal may be removed' at will by simply an upward pull upon f the tubing,

f nother object isto provide a novel device for suspending1 a well screen, packer, etc., from a string of. tubing. Dne other object is to provide a novel type o f setting tool forsnetting a well packer,

Other objects and advantages sought by this invention willbecome apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it being clearly understood that said description and drawings are by way of illustration and example only, and not with this invention, the same being in position within the lower end of the well.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the lower portion of the device illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 constituting a continuation of the lower portion of Fig, 1.

Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the device shown in Fig. 1 after the tubing has been released from the strainer so that it may be raised with respect thereto, but prior to the formation of a seal between the upper end of the strainer and the casing.

Fig. 4 is a view partly in vertical cross section illustrating the device shown in Fig. 3 after the seal has been formed between the upper end of the strainer and the casing.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a circular spring element forming a part of the packer assembly shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

1 Fig. 6 is an elevation of the same element.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the slip ring actuated by the element shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a view partly in vertical cross Ksection showing the slip ring illustrated in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a top plan viewof one of the elements of the valve located at the lower end of the strainer.v

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross section of the element shown in Fig. 9.

The numeral I indicates the well casing which is set within the well in the manner heretofore indicated, with its lower end substantially at the upper limit of the producing formation. After this casing has been set, the hole is drilled below the lower end of the casing, as indicated by the numeral 2, so as to tap the producing'formathe tubing 3 is' threaded, is threaded onto the upper end of a special iitting 5. Surrounding this special fitting and abutting the lower end of the collar 4, is a ring 6 serving as an abutment for the upper end of the resilient packer element l. The lower end of this packer element 'I is received by SeQOud abutment ring 8, similar to the ring t,

and this ring 6 rests against 'a ring 9 slidably mounted upon the special fitting 5.

The ring 9 is provided with downwardly extending resilient arms I0 upon the lower ends of which are carried slips II, having upwardly facing teeth I2. The ring 9 is also provided with a lip I3 adapted to contact the projection I4 on Vthe special tting 5, as the ring 9 moves downwardly, whereby downward movement of the ring 9 will be limited.

Adjacent its lower end, special fitting 5 is formed with external left hand threads for a considerable distance, as indicated at I5, so as to receive an internally left hand threaded wedge ring I6. This wedge ring has an upwardly presented outer tapered surface adapted when the wedge ring I6 is moved upwardly with respect to the special tting 5 to contact the lower portions of the slips I I and expand these slips.

The wedge ring L6 is also threaded on its outer lower portion I1 yto receive the upper end of a swaged nipple I8, this nipple being prevented from disengagement with the ring I 6 by means of a pin I9.

Below the lower end of the threaded zone l5, the special tting'5-is/provided with a smooth unthreaded zone 29, about which is disposed a packing ring 2I for the purpose of forming a seal between the lower end of the tting 5 and the interior of the swaged nipple I8. This packing ring 2| is provided with an upper abutment ring 22 in contact with the lower end of the threaded zone I5 and with a lower abutment 23 threaded to the lower end of the special fitting 5. This lower abutment 23 is prevented from disengagement from fitting 5 by means of a pin 24.

Upon the lower end of the swaged nipple I8, there is threaded a special coupling 25, a specially formed nipple 26 being threaded into the lower end of this coupling. The'lower end of the coupling 25 is formed to serve as an abutment for the upper end of a packing ring 21, the lower end of which is received by a sliding abutment ring 28. The sliding ring 28 rests upon the upper end 29 of a sleeve, having a hollowed` out intermediate section Within which are disposed a plurality of expanding dogs 30, springy pressed outwardly by means of springs 3i. The lower end 32 of this sleeve normally rests upon the shoulder 33' on the specially formed nipple 26.

The lower end of the nipple 26 is connected by a collar 34 to a wash pipe 35. The lower end of said wash pipe is connected by a special collar 36 to a valve operating fitting 31, and this special collar 36 is provided on its lower end with a seating surface 38. The valve operating member 31 is provided with splines 39 on its outer surface, each of these splines Ihaving an inclined lower end 40 a considerable distance above the lower end of the valve operating member.

When the slips I I are expanded and the packer 1 is caused to form a seal, both of these elements engage the inner surface of a pipe section 4I, which may be identified as a second tubing encircling the nrst tubing 5 and upon the outer surface of which is wound the strainer packer 42.

The upper end of the strainer packer 42 abuts against the end oi a special fitting 43, threaded on to the pipe section 4I, and this fitting 43 is provided witha zone 44 of enlarged internal diameter just above the end of the section 4l and with the second zone 45 of reduced internal diameter above the zone 36.

The lower end of the packer i2 abuts against aieaeaa an abutment ring 66, having a tapered and toothed portion 41 extending beneath the end of the packer. A shear pin 48 is provided for preventing downward movement of the sleeve 4I with respect to the ring 46 prior to the time that the packer 42 is to be set. `The lower end of the ring 46 is recessed to receive a slip ring 49 illustrated more in detail in Figs. '7 and 8, this slip ring 49, having teeth arranged to engage the lower 4end of the pipe section 4I and thus support the ring 46 on the sleeve 4I during the time the device is being lowered into the well, and prevent upward movement of the sleeve 4I with respect to the ring 46 after the packer 42 has been set. This slip ring 49 holds the packer 42 in set position. The slip ring 49 is spring pressed upwardly at all timesvby means of the spring ring 50,

' better shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The lower end of the ring 46 is extended past the spring ring 5l) and internally threaded at 5I to receive the swaged nipple 52. The lower end of the swaged nipple 52 is connected by means of a collar 53 tothe upper end of a strainer, or screen pipe 54. To the lower end of this screen pipe is threadedly secured a valve housing 55, having an internal iiange 56 adapted to receive the seat 38 on the collar 36 previously described. The valve housing is internally threaded at its lower end as shown at 51 for the purpose of receiving the double valve seat member 58. A set shoe 59 is also threaded to the lower end of the valve housing 55, below the valve seat element 56.

The valve seat element 58 is provided with two transversely positioned Walls or partitions 69 and 6E, respectively. The upper of these partitions is provided with a perforation 62 centrally thereof, and with a plurality of additional openings 63 disposed about the center. The central opening is of a size to receive the threaded stem 64 of a valve cage element 65, this stem being secured in place by means of a nut 66 threaded on to the stem 64. Within the valve element 65, which is illustrated more in detail in Figs. 9 and 10, there is positioned a sealing ring 61. This element 65 is adapted to receive the lower portion of the valve operating fitting 31, and the splines 39 on this fitting are adapted to cooperate with the splines 68 (Figs. 9 and 10) within the upper portion of the element 65, so that a rotation of the tubing will cause a rotation of the element 65. The upper ends of the splines 68 are beveled at 69 in a manner similar to the lower ends of the splines 39 so that the fitting 31 may be lowered into place within the element 65 and the splines, in the event they happen to abut each other, will cause a slight relative rotation of the parts, so that they may intert. 'I'he sealing ring 61 is adapted to forma Ifluid-tight seal between the element 65 and the fitting 31 when the two are in ltherdevice into a well.

In operation, the device is made up at the surface of the well in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the valve operating tting 31 occupying1 its position within the element 65 and the element 65 being so positioned that the openings 65a through the bottom thereof register with thev openings 63 through the partition 68. The lower edge 38 of the collar 36 will be seated against the flange 56 in the valve housing 55, and the* special tting will be screwed downwardly with` in the wedge ring I6 until this wedge ring forces the slips II outwardly int# engagement with the pipe section 4`I. When ini: has been done, the packer 1 will be expanded into sealing engagement with the pipe section 4I and packer 2| will form a seal with the inner wall of the swaged nipple I8.

It will be noted that with the parts in the position just described, the shoulder 38 on the Wash pipe will rest upon the ange 56 at the lower end of the screen or strainer and that the element 46 which serves as the lower abutment for the packer 42 is positively securedto the upper end of the strainer. The slips II, on the other hand, positively secure the tubular member 4I against downward movement with respect to the wash pipe. Thus, the entire assemblage is suspended from the tubing 3 by means of the slips II, the sleeve 4I, and the slip ri'ng 49, with the shear pins 48 possibly bearing some part of the weight, while the lower end of the wash pipe prevents any upward movement of the shoe 59, the strainer 54, or the abutment 46 with respect to the lsleeve 4'I. From this, it will be apparent that the abutment 46 and the lelement 43 cannot be moved toward each other when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Because of this, it is impossible, even though the shoe 59 should come in contact with a bridge as the device is being lowered into the well, for the packer 42 to be accidentally set. Neither will it be possible for a sudden jerk on the string of tubing to cause the packer to set itself. Both of these eventualities are possible with the ordinary type of packer and packer suspension.

The entire structure when thus supported from the tubing 3 will be lowered into the well in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

With the device in the lower portion of the well, washing fluid is then pumped downwardly through the tubing 3 and out through the disc valve and past the poppet valve. Thence, it will pass outwardly through the lower en'd of the shoe 59 and upwardly about the screen to wash the walls of the well free of mud. The wash water and mud will pass upwardly outside of the screen past the packer 42 and out of the well through the casing. This mud and wash water will be positively prevented from entering the screen because the screen is closed and sealed to the tubing at its upper end by means of the packer 1.

After the outsideof the screenhas been washed sufficiently, the tubing will be rotated to the right to cause it to move upwardly with respect to the wedge ring I6 and the slips II and slip carrying ring 9. When the projection I4 comes in contact with the lip I3, the slips ll will be moved away from the wedge ring I6. Meanwhile, the abutnient ring 8 for the packer 1 will have moved downwardly to permit the packer to retract, thus breaking the seal between the tubing and the upper end of the screen or strainer.

Continued rotative movement of the tubing 3 will cause the abutment ring 22 to come into contact with the shoulder at the lower end of the wedge ring i6, and as soon as this abutment ring is` tightly wedged against this shoulder, the rotative movement-of the tubing will be transmitted through the wedge ring I8 and the swaged nipple I8 and thence downwardly to the valve operating member 31. Rotation of this member 31 will cause the splines 39 to engage the splines 68 and rotate the disc valve element 65 until the openings 65a therethrough are no longer in register with the openings 63, thus closing this valve.

It will be appreciated that pumping may be- A continued through the tubing and wash pipe during the release of the tubing from the pipe 4I as just described and until. the rotation of the tubing causes the closing of the valve at the lower end of the strainer. When this takes place, the load on the pumps.` will cause them to stop, and upon raising the tubing until the element 31 is withdrawn from the packing 61, the pump'will again be allowed to operate, thus indicating deflnitely, when the pump again starts, that the-tubmg has been released from the bottom hole equipment and raised from its sealed position Within the shoe. If, upon raising the tubing, the pumps donot again begin to operate, the operator at the top of the well will know denitely that the tubing has not been released from the strainer and packer and that further steps must be taken.

As soon as the slips II and the packing 1 have been disengaged from the pipe section 4I and the tubing moved upwardly with respect to thev pipe section 4I to disengage the valve operating fitting 31 from the element 65, further washing may take place downwardly through the tubing' out the lower end of the tting 31, and upwardly within the screen. 'I'his wash may pass upwardly between the screen and the pipe 4I on the one hand, and the tubing on the other, because of the fact that the seal 1 has now been broken.

The screen having been washed inside, the-tubing will then be pulled upwardly until the lower ends of the clogs 30 pass the upper end of the pipe section 4I, whereupon the dogs will be expanded by the springs 3 I, so that upon downward movement of the tubing 3 they will rest upon the upper end of the pipe section 4I. Upon lowering the tubing so that a portion of, or all of, its

Weight is rested upon the pipe section 4 I, this pipe section will be moved downwardly to cause f the shearing of the pin 48 andthe lengthwise compression/of the packer 42, thus expanding this packer and forming aseal between the upper end ofthe straineran'd the interior of the casing.

- At the same/unefyynen the weight of the tubing is rested upon the dogs 30, these dogs, which are mounted in thef/fslidable sleeve '29-32, will move upwardly withresict to the tubing, thus moving the abutment ring 28 upwardly and compressing the packing 21 lengthwise, so as to cause it to form a seal between the tubing and the zone 45 of the fitting 43.

It will now be seen that all liquid entering the' well from the producing formation must pass in- Y wardly through the -screen or strainer'because of the fact that the upper end of the strainer is sealed to the lower end of the casing, as shown inFig. 4. Likewise, after this liquid has passed into the interior of the screen, it must flow uppacker element wound about said parts between said abutments, means for preventing movement of said parts away from each other, suspension means means'releasably secured to the upper of said parts, and means carried by said suspension means for forminga seal between said suspension means and said upper part.

2. In a packer assembly, a pair of telescopin parts having abutments thereon, a distortable packer element wound about said parts between said abutments, means for preventing movement of said parts away from' each other, suspension means releasably'secured to the upper of said parts, and means carried by said suspension means for preventing ow through said packer element about said suspension means.

3, In a device of `the character described, i combination, a well screen, a wash pipe extending into said well screen and spaced centrally therefrom and adapted to wash through the lower end thereof, a first packer means on the upper portion of said well screen for forming a seal with the wall of the well, a secondpacker meansv carried by said wash pipe for effecting a closure between said wash pipe and said screen,` screen supporting means carried by said wash pipe for suspending' said screen from said wash pipe, means carried by said wash pipe for expanding and contracting said second packer means into and out of the sealing vposition and actuating said screen supporting means to suspend or disconnect the screen from said wash pipe.

4. In a device ofthe character described, in combination, a well screen, a wash pipe extending into said well screen and spaced centrally therefrom adapted to wash through the lower end thereof, a packer on the upper end of said Well 'Screen adapted to form a seal with the wall of a well, means on said wash pipe for engaging the interior of said packer to suspend said packer and said screen from said wash pipe, a second packer on said wash pipe adapted to close the space and form a seal between said wash pipe and a central Wall of said rst packer, and means carried by said washpipe and operative to expand said second packer radially outwardly when said suspending means is in operative relation and in 'engagey ment with tl'ie central wall of said rst packer.

5. In a device of the character described, combination, a well screen, a first packerlon Ithe upper end of said screen for forming a seal"` between the upper end of said screen and the wall of `a well, a tubing, a Second packer element on said tubing adapted to be expanded into contact with the central wall of said rst packer, first operating means on said tubing adapted to coact with the central wall of said rst packer for expanding said second packer element into engagement with said central wall, a third packer ele- A-downward pressure by said tubing exercises al ment on said tubing and located below said sec` ond packer element and adapted to be expanded to form a seal between said tubing and said screen after the tubing has been liftedwith respect to the screen so that said second packer element is above the zone of said first packer element, and

second operating means carried by 4said tubing and adapted to engage a surface of the screen wall whereby said second operating means under thrust llengthwise of said tubing on said third 'packer element to expand the latter against the inner' wall of said screen.

6. In av device of the character described, in

combination, a well screen, arst packer on the upper portion of saidv screen providing a seal bevtween the upper portion of said screen and the wall of a well, a tubing s'paced centrally from the v wall of the well screen, means on said tubing for coacting with said rst packer to expand it into the sealing position, a second packer element on said tubing adapted to be expanded into contact with the central wall of said screen, and operating means carried by saidtubing and adapted to coact with the wall of said screen forexpanding said second packer element into engagement with said panded by upward movement of said slips with.

respect to said tubing to form a seal between said tubing and the upper end of said screen, and means for expanding said slips and forcing them upwardly with respect to said tubing upon rotative movement of said tubing, said means for expanding including one cam surface to engage said tubing whereby the'latter may be moved lengthwise in one direction with respect to said well screen t0 expand the slips and a second cam surface for moving said tubing in -the opposite direction and thereby moving said slips to actuate expansibly said sealing means.

8. In a packer assembly, pair of telescoping parts having abutments thereon, a distortable packer element wound about said telescoping parts between said abutments, means for preventing movement of said telescoping parts extensibly, a plurality of means removably bearing against spaced points on said. telescoping parts and engaging opposite sides of one of said telescopingV parts and preventing contraction of said telescoping parts and movement of said abutments toward each other until it is desired to set the packer.

9. In a device of the character described, in combination, a well screen, a rst packing means for forming a seal between the upper end of said screen and the walls of a well,- a tubing spaced centrally from the wall of the well screen for the passage of material when the screen is being washed interiorly, means on said tubing for expanding said first packing means, second packing means carried by said tubing to form a seal between said tubing and the upper end of said screen, and means carried by said tubing to expand said second packingvmeans aft-er said first packing means has been expanded.

10. In combination with a first tubing, a packer mounted on an inner wall spaced from and encircling said rst tubing, a second tubing spaced outwardly from saidrst tubing, a packer setting tool comprising a slee've slidable on said first tubing, expansibl'e dogs on said sleeve adapted to move said sleeve on said rst tubing to expand and engage said second tubing to limit downward movement of said first tubing with respect to said second tubing whereby movement of said sleeve compresses said packer and the latter is expanded into sealing engagement with the inner wall of the second tubing.

CICERO C. BROWN. 

